Semneby met Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development Minister Bozidar Kalmeta and Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul last week, when he announced a public awareness campaign on sustainable refugee return.
Since the latest survey conducted by the OSCE showed that there was a great interest among the refugees to return to their pre-war homes, Semneby said last week that the campaign had three goals -- encourage refugees and displaced persons to make an informed decision on whether they want to return, promote reconciliation, tolerance and multiculturalism in the communities receiving refugees in order to build an integrated society, and help Croatian authorities in making it possible for refugees who want to return to do so.
Pupovac said that it was in the interests of the Croatian government, the OSCE and the Serb community for this campaign to be directed at revitalising communities and circumstances in which people would live.
It is much more important to us to work on changing the living conditions and not just the views, Pupovac added.
Since the survey showed that 42 per cent of refugees were willing to return if their homes were rebuilt, it is necessary to rebuild their homes and create conditions for their return, Semneby said.
Pupovac said that it was necessary to earmark the required budgetary funds for the reconstruction and development of individual areas to ensure refugee return.